How often do you work directly with operators versus through a network?

[MichaelCorfman]

As an affiliate one can work frequently work directly with an operator through their affiliate program or with a network that provides offers for an operator.

For this week's poll I ask if you work exclusively one way or the other, or use a mix of the two.

Besides voting in the poll, I invite you to share your reasoning for your choices in this area.

Michael

[ocreditor]

Working mainly with operators directly when it comes to rev-share deals, with CPA deals it's more flexible

[newcustomeroffer]

100% operators nowadays, have worked with a few networks in the past on CPA but tend to prefer hybrid/rev share direct deals now.

[MMM]

never worked with networks.

recently thought that i might be missing something and checked few but so far haven't found any special benefit. for example links to some program that doesn't accept new affiliates or any other advantage besides saving on registration process.

[wonderpunter]

only work direct. will only ever work direct.

[NoDepositCasinos]

Currently, I exclusively work with operators, and I prefer to keep it that way. Personally, I don't see any advantages in working with networks.

[content]

Unless it's an operator's own multi-site network(which I assume is not the spirit of the question in terms of a "network"), I wouldn't work with a network for gambling offers.

In the past, I did different types of non-gambling marketing and I'd send traffic to all sorts of CPA offers, but that was a different type of traffic and different type of marketing I was doing(incent allowed content locking niche, different ballpark).

For gambling, the problem with networks for me is not only are you dealing with a middle man(which is fine if it's like email submits, survey offers, PPI, free trials, stuff like that, aff managers get paid whether network or in house and for other niches better to have it all one place with built in geo redirects to related offers blah blah blah), it's that CPA networks change campaigns allll the time, discontinue offers with short notice is the norm(often redirects to a new related offer, though doesn't make sense for a review site traffic), blah blah blah. But for gambling, it just doesn't make sense for casino portal sites. Plus I'm not interested in CPA anyway, which networks primarily are rather than rev share.

[Pokerface]

Currently around 99% directly with operators. Networks are more difficult to work with in our line of business.

[Rudolph_Adv]

Having worked from both sides - direct operators media buying team , and manager of the affiliate network, I can say that you can get scammed from both of them. The direct operator usually gives higher rates to the reliable affiliates, but a good network has more paying options, big variety of offers ( gambling) , sometimes exclusive deals if they are well known and been long time on the market. The network treats affiliates better, if the advertiser is refusing to pay ( for any reason) the network will cover the work in case the aff is really good and they don't want to loose him

[universal4]

The network treats affiliates better, if the advertiser is refusing to pay ( for any reason) the network will cover the work in case the aff is really good and they don't want to loose him

Sorry but this is not true in many case.
Time after time over the years we have seen cases where the third party network refuses to pay the affiliate based upon the operator withholding payment from the third party network.

Additionally we have seen cases where the operator will pull the plug on the third party based upon actions of "some" affiliates, often leaving affiliates that had nothing to do with reason why the plug was pulled taking the loss based on actions of others.

Working direct with the operator removes the risk of this happening.

Obviously due diligence is needed in choosing operators to work with, and additional caution should be used if choosing to work with third parties.

Rick
Universal4

[Rudolph_Adv]

Sorry but this is not true in many case.
Time after time over the years we have seen cases where the third party network refuses to pay the affiliate based upon the operator withholding payment from the third party network.

Additionally we have seen cases where the operator will pull the plug on the third party based upon actions of "some" affiliates, often leaving affiliates that had nothing to do with reason why the plug was pulled taking the loss based on actions of others.

Working direct with the operator removes the risk of this happening.

Obviously due diligence is needed in choosing operators to work with, and additional caution should be used if choosing to work with third parties.

Rick
Universal4

There are a lot of cases I know myself, if its a reliable network, they look after good affiliates, if operator refuses to pay ,lets say for test run, using excuses that the traffic was motivated or watever, the network will still pay to the affiliate, because this person runs good traffic to the other offers that this network has, therefore not to loose a good traffic , they will try to keep him satisfied. Of cause I should highlight that not all networks do that , but long-time trustworthy ones certainly do . At least in the gambling industry I've seen myself such cases. Of course there are a lot of one-day networks that are looking for quick profit and don't care of their reputation.

WIth second point I partially agree , but again depending on the network, this is also solvable issue.
With direct operator the same thing can happen easily, some ( not all) , if they have a lot publishers, they are shaving off your traffic, saying its motivated fraud , brush you off, or worse - disconnect your account, because they have bunch of others who attract good traffic, from the other hand network ( good one) attracts more traffic to the operator, because a lot of publishers from the network run the traffic simultaneously in bigger volumes, so its unlikely they would do smth like that with network.

That is just my opinion based on the experience I had. Of course if you are an experienced affiliate with direct connections to big platforms , it's another story.

[universal4]

Decent points, but when an affiliate is direct with an honorable operator, actions of other affiliate can not affect you directly. Saying the same thing can happen is incorrect, it can't.

Every single third party network that has had these issues arise over the years, all promised it would not happen, and yet with some it did.

If an operator plans to shave, whether the operator is dealing direct or with third parties, the affiliate should likely think twice about working with them, third party or otherwise.

This debate has existed for more then 10 years, probably more like 15 now, and some respected third parties have been around since the beginning of the debate. Just because some were honorable and stood the test of time does not mean they all have. Sure some operators have disappeared too, but the third party did not stop that from happening.

There may be logical reasons to work with third parties, such as some geo's being accepted while others are not, or other business decisions etc. But even though there might be reasons to consider a third party, there are often many more reasons why not to, and often new affiliates may not understand the potential pitfalls, until after they get burned.

#A Operator or official program pays affiliate for traffic.
#B Operator or official program pays "third party" for traffic, then "third party" pays affiliate for traffic.


Rick
Universal4

[Rudolph_Adv]

agree on the point of thinking twice before working with operator who plans to shave, but we never know whether it will happen or not, even reading some topics reg direct operators, some users say they didn't get paid and the traffic was good, the players were alive ect, the other ppl in the same topic are saying they never had a problem.

This is more of a point who is comfortable working directly and who is more comfortable working using network. There are pros and cons from both sides.

Totally agree about the network having more geos as one of an advantages working with them , also I know affiliates in gambling choose networks, coz for some offers operators have no more CAP for affiliates, and network has the CAP to the same offer, networks have more paying options than operator( not all but the ones I came across) , referral links- where you can earn additionally by inviting your mates to work, affiliate networks provide access to a wide range of offers ,new offers from different operators are on display and offered to you by the managers, you don't need to look for them yourself ect..

As you said earlier this debate was on for a long time, but one thing is for sure, if the networks were so bad , ppl would've stopped using them, but we see some of them are on the market for 10+ years and new ones are opening each year, that means there is a demand for their services...

[universal4]

But just because a third party have been operating for 10 years does not mean they have not shafted affiliates.

The same can be said for some operators, and doing due diligence at places like the GPWA is the best defense.

Rick
Universal4

[Cash Bonus]

only work direct. will only ever work direct.

Definitely, wonderpunter. I'll also only work direct with any affiliate program. I see absolutely no need to ever have a third party involved, like a middle man.

[iGamingOne]

There are quite a few benefits to working with a network. First of all, you have access to hundreds of brands while dealing with just one dashboard—pretty convenient! Another advantage is getting paid in one transaction, instead of having to track your earnings from multiple sources. The best part is that some networks have exclusive deals that an affiliate wouldn’t get directly. And if you run into a problem, there's always a manager who knows you and is genuinely interested in helping you out.

[Slotsjudge]

Interesting poll results! We work exclusively with direct advertisers ourselves—fewer headaches and less room for mistakes. Plus, it’s often easier to strike a deal directly!

[All In Affiliates]

Sorry but this is not true in many case.
Time after time over the years we have seen cases where the third party network refuses to pay the affiliate based upon the operator withholding payment from the third party network.

Additionally we have seen cases where the operator will pull the plug on the third party based upon actions of "some" affiliates, often leaving affiliates that had nothing to do with reason why the plug was pulled taking the loss based on actions of others.

Working direct with the operator removes the risk of this happening.

Obviously due diligence is needed in choosing operators to work with, and additional caution should be used if choosing to work with third parties.

Rick
Universal4

Deep diving a bit here to understand sentiments about Affiliate Networks. Can't really disagree with anything you said bc there will always be bad actors.

But I'm curious if now in 2026 you still feel the same way?

[universal4]

I personally do, and in some cases there might even be more today that feel that way as previously did. One only has to be burned once and there are 20 years of history here at the GPWA where it has happened many more times than is comfortable for many.

Rick
Universal4

[All In Affiliates]

I personally do, and in some cases there might even be more today that feel that way as previously did. One only has to be burned once and there are 20 years of history here at the GPWA where it has happened many more times than is comfortable for many.

Rick
Universal4

That's fair. I would expect someone with your industry experience and history to have the same opinion.

I'm just hoping to understand the main concerns or pain points affiliates have with working with networks.

Appreciate your response and feedback!